MNP to administer farmer vote on future of CWB

July 7, 2011
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by Staff

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WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, CANADA — The Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) announced on July 7 that MNP, a chartered accounting and business advisory firm, has been contracted to administer a Prairie-wide plebiscite on the future of the organization.

"Through this Prairie-wide plebiscite, farmers will be asked if they want to sell all wheat and all barley through the CWB's single desk, or through an open market," said CWB board chair Allen Oberg.

Oberg noted that MNP LLP is the company that oversees CWB director elections, and has the experience and resources required to ensure proper administration of the process.

"I encourage all farmers to vote and make their voices heard on the future of the CWB," Oberg said.

MNP has created a Web site (www.cwbvote.ca) and phone line (1.877.780.VOTE) to provide detailed information about the plebiscite to farmers.

"Ballots will be mailed to more than 68,000 wheat and barley farmers next week," said plebiscite coordinator Ian Craven of MNP. "There are two plebiscite questions, one on barley and one on wheat."

Farmers who have grown wheat in the past five crop years are eligible to vote on the future of the single desk for wheat while farmers who have grown barley in the past five crop years are eligible to vote on the future of the single desk for barley. Those who have grown both in the past five crop years are eligible to vote on the future of each crop.

Producers with an active permit book in either the 2009-10 or 2010-11 crop years and who have delivered wheat or barley in the past five crop years (2006-07 to 2010-11) will automatically receive a ballot in the mail later this month.

Other producers who have grown wheat or barley in the past five years can apply for a ballot now. To apply, download an application to vote from www.cwbvote.ca, or call 1.877.780.8683.

Voting packages should arrive in farmers' mailboxes by July 22. Farmers have until Aug. 8 to establish their eligibility to vote. Completed ballots must be postmarked by Aug. 24.